Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles

Search form

February2013

What we have been up to...

MCLA at LA Art Show 2013

January 26th 2013

MCLA presented the panel, Rebuilding Our Heritage: Ordinance Reform and the Impending Mural Resurgence in L.A., during the LA Art Show 2013. It featured panelists Glenna Avila (artist/CalArts), Tanner Blackman (Planning Director City Council District 14), Chris Espinosa (El Pueblo), Judithe Hernández (artist/MCLA) and Man One (artist/Crewest), who all spoke about their personal involvement with public art over the years. The panel was moderated by MCLA’s Executive Director, Isabel Rojas-Williams, and covered such topics as, how murals function in their respective communities, responsibilities of the artist, and the interplay between graffiti culture and muralism.

Progress at last! The Mural Ordinance was passed by the Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM), which is comprised of Councilmembers Ed Reyes, José Huizar, and Mitchell Englander. After much debate, the Councilmembers managed to push the ordinance forward with modifications, including having existing murals grandfathered in once the ordinance is passed. An outstanding issue from the January 15th, 2013 PLUM hearing is the minimum number of units for a residential building to be allowed to display a mural. There was significant discussion at PLUM regarding such a ban of murals on single-family home and it was suggested that more time be allowed for further input. In this next phase, the ordinance must be approved by City Council. To read the latest version dated 1/4/13, click here.

Progress is readily evident on our latest restoration project on the 101 Freeway. Going to the Olympics has been unveiled one section at a time, and the second car (out of five) has emerged on January 30th. Recently, MCLA had the pleasure of having the original muralist, Frank Romero, visit MCLA’s commissioned restorer, Willie Herrón, on the freeway to view the progress of this restoration.

MCLA’s executive director, Isabel Rojas-Williams invited Graffiti writers Blosm and Petal to be part of a lecture at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), on the History of Muralism and its Relationship to Contemporary Street Art. For many years, Isabel has collaborated with Dr. Manuel Aguilar at CSULA to bring awareness of LA's public art to his MA & MFA Seminar class. Artists such as Frank Romero, Eloy Torrez, Kent Twitchell, Ismael Cazarez, Art Mortimer, Man One, Vyal, Codak, Raul Gonzalez, Timoi, Shandu, and Zender, among many others, have spoken about public art for CSULA’s students at Isabel’s invitation. The lecture featured a graffiti demonstration by Graffiti writers Petal and Blossom.

Here at MCLA, we are often asked who the mysterious woman from Kent Twitchell’s 7th Street Altarpiece mural is, and why she was chosen by Kent. Lita Albuquerque is a painter, sculptor, environmental and installation artist, who resides in Los Angeles. Her career began in the early 1970s, and she has been making art ever since. In addition to her work as an artist, she has also been an educator at the Fine Art Graduate Program at Art Center College of Design for the past 22 years. To read our full interview with Lita, click here.

In This Issue...

MCLA at LA Art Show 2013

The Mural Ordinance Passes at PLUM!

Lecture at CSULA

Upcoming MCLA Mural Tours:

MCLA actively organizes mural tours throughout Los Angeles as a way to connect communities directly with these important public works. Follow MCLA on Facebook or visit our events page to stay up-to-date on upcoming mural tours throughout Los Angeles!

Our friends at Do ArT Foundation and L.A. Street Art Gallery put together the Back Alley exhibit at GR Works Gallery. The exhibition premiered on Saturday January 26th, and runs until February 1st, so make sure to stop by before it closes. All art sales will help fund art projects with underserved youth!

Muralist Fabian Debora, of Homeboy Industries, recently completed his mural Inner Self, Inner Voice in LAX Terminal 4. Debora has long been an advocate for muralism as a tool for social change, and continues that message with his latest mural. To view his thoughts on the topic, watch his interview here.